Improvement in breast-straps for horses



C. P. HOLMES.

Breast-Straps for Horses.

No. 134,283, Patentednwm, 1872.

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CHARLES P. HOLMES, OF GOUVERNEUR, NEW YORK.-

IMPROVEMENT IN BREAST-'STRAPS FOR HORSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. llll, dated December21, 1872.

To all whom Ait may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. HOLMES, of Gouverneur, in the county ofSt. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedBreast-Strap for Horses; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

The invention consists in forming a stii'ener for the inside of lexiblebreast-straps out of several metallic plates or strips hinged togetherso that the breast-strip will be liexible and may adjust itself easilyto the various sizes of shoulders in dilferent horses without changingthe points of bearing thereon.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invenv tion with a portion of thecovering removed.

Fig. 2 represents a sectional eleva-tion of the stiffener B.

A in the drawing represents my breast-strap, provided with thestiffener, made of metal or other material, which consists of plateshaving main hinges b b1 b1 and auxiliary hinges b2 b2. The front B1 ofmy breast-strap is curved downwardly so as to avoid the possibility ofpressure upon the throat of the animal, while the sides are raised at B2B2 to avoid pressure upon the point of each shoulder. The rear parts B3B3 are then downwardly inclined to correspond to the direction of thelines ot' draft. This construction throws the strain upon the breast andbetween the apex of shoulder and neck, and thus gives an opportunity tothe horse for a free and unobstructed exercise of his muscular power.

These stifteners are open generally to the objection of rigidity andconsequent friction that chafes the animal; but this difficulty isentirely overcome by forming them of a series of hinged plates.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

A metallic stilener for breast-straps, com.

posed of a series of hinged plates, as and for the purpose described.

GHAS. l?. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

CEAS. A. PETTIT, SoLoN G. KEMON.

